Do Spiders Have Brains?
WouterWhen it comes to do spiders have brains, the answer is a resounding no. They have a complex nervous system that enables them to survive, but they don’t have the same kind of brain that humans do.
The central nervous system of a spider consists of a suboesophageal ganglion, which is a star-shaped structure that controls leg muscles. It is linked to the brain by lateral extensions. This star-shaped structure is similar to the primitive segmentation found in other invertebrates, such as jellyfish.
While it may be tempting to think that a spider’s brain is as big as a poppy seed, the average adult spider’s brain is only about the size of a grain of rice. Spiders don’t have the kind of brains that we see in vertebrates, but they still have very high levels of intelligence.
The jumping spider is famous for its ability to pounce. Researchers have also noticed that these spiders take a circuitous route to their prey.
However, scientists have been unable to figure out how the jumping spider manages to perform such feats. Until now, the scientific community has been unable to record spiders’ electrical brain activity.
A new technique allows researchers to observe the electrical activity of a spider’s brain. It’s a technically innovative approach that opens the door to a new field of neurophysiology.
Although most spiders don’t have any feelings, they do respond to stimuli that are perceived as threatening. For example, they can detect vibrations in webs.
